Winter Tire Recommendation Question

[srjones]

Hi, new to X5world.
I need some help re Winter Tire recommendation for my 2007 3.0 X5 with Sport Pkg.
Current tire size is 255/50R19/RF 107H.
I live in Texas but winter in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
OEM tires came with Michelin Latitudes which have seemed fine.
Current mileage is about 35,000 miles and about worn out.
I want to get replacement tires for general all around use but I also want to now get Winter Tires for the time in winter in Steamboat.
Does anyone have any experience with Michelin Latitude Alpin HP in 19 inch size?
Last question what mileage could I expect with winter tires? Is it ok to buy in Texas and drive up & back to Colorado or better to buy the tires & rims in Colorado? Does the drive up & back from Texas & Colorado hurt the winter tires. Mileage roundtrip about 2500 miles.

[cmyX6go]

If you're going to get dedicated winter tires I suggest you get 17" or 18" rims. I had Pirelli Ice and Snows on 18" rims on my 2005 and they were great (255 all around).

Not sure what is available for the E70. You are fine driving on winter tires from TX to CO. It won't hurt them.

I don't have any experience with the Lattitudes. Either do a search or someone will be around to answer.

Good luck and welcome

[Bigtop]

You will be fine keeping your 19" rims. I live in Breckenridge, CO and put Blizzak LM 25's on for winter and they work great. I bought the normal version not the run flat version and they are actually quieter than the Bridgestone Dueler H/L 400 RFT's that came on the car.

[X5 Meister]

For the E70 X5 BMW Canada recommends the Star Spoke 209 18" rims with
Dunlop Grandtrek WT M3 run flat winter tires. For the E70 X5 M-Sport Edition they recommend the V Spoke 223M 19" rims with Continental 4x4 Winter Contact run-flat winter tires.

[srjones]

Thanks. I called Gebhardt BMW in Boulder and they said always go one size down on rims for winter tires if OEM was 19 inch go to 18 inch rims and that BMW only recommends the Dunlop Grantrek tires. Did not say run flat or not. They did not say any other tire was not as good but only that BMW had tested the Dunlops and not tested any other winter tires for the X5 3.0 with sport pkg. Guessing I will get 18 inch rims and either dunlops or similar here in Texas for the drive up to Steamboat & winter there and return and go back to non winter tires & my 19 inch rims on my return.
Seems like best place to get all this is tirerack.com...yes?

Appreciate your help.

[dms]

I think the compromise should be determined by the conditions (temps as well as snow/wet/dry roads) on the transit legs back and forth.

• if you'll only see 40+F weather and dry/wet roads, get the winter tires in CO.
• if you'll encounter snow, esp deep snow, the winter tires will work much better than the all seasons.
• All seasons will handle some snow, but if the temp drops well below freezing, winters work much better
• in higher temp situations (say 60+), winter tires will generate too much heat from the sipes/deep tread and might literally fall apart (chunking). I think this would be particularly acute in a heavy truck like the x5.

2500 miles won't bother the tires much, except for wear. Note that real winter tires rarely come with a UTQG rating because they tend to wear pretty fast, esp in warmer weather.

[X5 Meister]

I'd shop around a bit. Tirerack isn't what it used to be. The last 2 times I've bought tires it was from a local dealer and ended up costing less and with much less headache then dealing with tirerack.

dms is right about the lack of UTQG rating. I've heard that if you get 4 seasons out of winter tires you're lucky.

[y5choi]

I have 20" summers and 18" canadian BMW winter package (Dunlop Grandtrek WT M3 run flat winter tires) ride is smooth quiet, soaks up bumps better than the 20"s. I love it.

[Bigtop]

You really do not need to go to the expense of buying a whole new set of 18" rims if you have the 19" rims already. If you had 20" or 21" rims, different story, then yes I would buy a set of 18"s. If you put good snow tires on you will be fine. I drive 6 months of the year in snow, deep snow, ice, slush and this X5 is the best handling vehicle I have had in these conditions. Unless you just really want to buy another set of rims!!!

[srjones]

Thanks, main question I still have is where to buy the winter tires.
Best case driving from Houston Texas in Mid December to Steamboat Colorado the roads are dry no snow. If that is the case the all season tires seem good. Buy tires in Steamboat. If weather is snow bound of course best to be driving over the Eisenhower Tunnel & Rabbit Ears pass with winter tires. Not being able to know the exact road conditions and road temps question is where to buy the winter tires. If I buy winter tires in Texas road temps & road conditions could be above 50 F. Will that cause problems of tire deterioration chunking by driving at 75 MPH speed limit on I-25 north?

Thanks